geekhack
geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: cheater on Wed, 16 December 2020, 18:45:02
-
Hi all,
between all the input devices that I have (a few keyboards, a few mice, trackpad, ...), I would like to keep them plugged in via USB. I've looked around but all the usb hubs out there with more than 4 ports are internally just one hub plugged into another hub, and every time I read (amazon) reviews, the reviews talk about incompatibilities, half the ports not being recognized by the system, etc. I want to spare myself the trouble by buying a thing that actually works - but there don't seem to be any reviews out there that point to any good products. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions?
-
Anker.
Beware Amazon reviews, they are EXTREMLY full of shills, cons and morons.
Beware, plugging too many things in will create lag and lower transfer speeds.
I recommend plugging the mouse and keyboard direct, or a smaller hub, same for thumbsticks and external drives.
-
I've been using these for 4+ years:
https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Premium-Port-USB-Cable/dp/B00KDECEBQ/ref=sr_1_6
ORICO Powered USB 3.0 Hub, Aluminum 7 Port USB 3.0 Hub, and 3 Fast Charging Ports.
Come in a number of configurations. 4, 7 ans 10 ports at least.
Use it on my MacBook Pro.
Not cheap, but no regrets. I haven't run onto incompatibilities.
-
I think the reason most hubs with more than 4 ports are just cascaded hubs is that most hub chips only come in 4 port varieties.
-
Generally, when I looks for USB hubs, if they contain over around 4 out ports, I always looks for a port for external power.
Sent from my HD1913 using Tapatalk
-
I think the reason most hubs with more than 4 ports are just cascaded hubs is that most hub chips only come in 4 port varieties.
hubs are part of the usb spec, and the spec says a hub has 4 ports and can be cascaded up to 5 times, it is why most hub have 4 ports, and anything above is cascaded.
also in the usb2 spec a device plugged into a host can draw up to 500mA while a device plugged into a hub is only meant to draw up to 100mA, and will have to share the bandwidth of course. i did read the usb spec before USB3 came out so i do not know how all of that evolved with it though.
-
I think the reason most hubs with more than 4 ports are just cascaded hubs is that most hub chips only come in 4 port varieties.
hubs are part of the usb spec, and the spec says a hub has 4 ports and can be cascaded up to 5 times, it is why most hub have 4 ports, and anything above is cascaded.
also in the usb2 spec a device plugged into a host can draw up to 500mA while a device plugged into a hub is only meant to draw up to 100mA, and will have to share the bandwidth of course. i did read the usb spec before USB3 came out so i do not know how all of that evolved with it though.
Yeah I'm fine with hubs being made up of 4-port chips, i just want a hub that works, and many of them don't seem to
-
My 7 port Anker has never had issues.
Oriko is probably another good one.
Higher end Belkin is probably fine as well.
-
Thanks. Based on the info I'm partial to give this thing a try:
ORICO USB 3.0 Hub 13 Ports 60 W USB Hub with Power Supply Single On/Off Switch and 12 V/5 A Energy Adapter for Desktop Computer, PC, iMac, Mobile HDD, Flash Drive, Phone, Charging iPad (http://"https://www.amazon.de/-/en/ORICO-Adapter-Desktop-Computer-Charging/dp/B08CXG8MJW/")
-
Why not get two matching 4 port hubs (if they even need to match to look good)? If you're constantly swapping which keyboard and mouse you're actually using you'll probably tie the cables in knots and two small knots is easier to sort than a big one, not to mention removing all compatibillity and speed concerns.
-
Get a powered hub from Anker/Sabrent etc. I've gone through a couple over the years, they really don't last long when used a lot.
You could run into some issues with input latency with things like peripherals, so I'd plug those devices in directly.
I stopped buying them, they just die on me one port at a time. Maybe I'm just unlucky.
-
Been looking at charging docks for my HP Envy x360 for a while now. From what I've read It's a bit of a compatibility minefield unless you buy an expensive one and I'm slow to spend 150 euro on one.